To explain the rise in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), researchers turned to another historic trend—the increase, since the late 1970s, in the number of people carrying human papillomavirus (HPV), an infection known to cause OPSCC . . .

“We wanted to determine if the association is also seen in two relatively common conditions in elderly American men—depression and prostate cancer—in terms of the effects on treatment choices as well as survival,” said Jim Hu, MD, MPH, a co-author on the study . . .

The study showed it was possible to successfully link a statewide registry that collects data on surgical quality with the tumor registries of 10 hospitals. The database created from the linkage will serve as a platform for a quality assessment program for rectal cancer surgery.

The study found that among patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer, those who consumed more calcium and milk after their diagnosis had a lower rate of death from all causes. These same benefits were not seen in those who consumed more vitamin D . . .

“For one patient, a 2 or 3% absolute benefit in terms of recurrence rate may be important enough that she would choose to take chemotherapy with all of its various side effects. And for another patient, that same exact amount of benefit is not enough to warrant taking chemotherapy."